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Author
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Topic: Identifying unknown winged space booster model
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CAIR67
Member Posts: 17
From: MD, United States
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 09-30-2011 08:35 AM
  
I don't have a clue what project this model might have been. I was thinking somewhere around the late 80's to 90's era. Overall the model has been forgotten about and battered around. The vehicle originally had winglets coming out of the wings but these have been broken off. Also looks like it possibly had canards just below the nose section. The booster and vehicle both have holes to connect each other. I am hoping that you very knowledgable space experts out there have some idea of what this might be.  
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cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 09-30-2011 09:10 AM
The X-37's ancestor? X-40A? |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 09-30-2011 01:34 PM
Wow, nice find. Hopefully some modeler can whip this poor abandoned model into shape. The booster might be a Minuteman III as some proposals have been kicked around for years as far as using it as a space booster (I believe OSC has done the most proposals).I believe this is a different configuration study for one of the unmanned orbiter concepts, be it X-40 or X-37. Most designs tend to go through a few passes before they settle on what eventually flies. Just look at how many design studies shuttle had before it was finalized. Aerospace companies come up with desktop model concepts all the time and there are plenty of still born projects out there. Some never see the light of day as the programs are still classified with those models kept under lock and key by the companies that did them. But others indeed tend to end up in private collections or dumpsters when storage space gets cleared out in offices. |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 10-01-2011 10:11 AM
The person to ask is Scott Lowther at Aerospace Projects Review, if he doesn't know what it is, it might just be a model someone came up with on their own. Also he does excellent restoration work. |
Scott Lowther
New Member Posts: 6
From: Thatcher, UT, USA
Registered: Oct 2011
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posted 10-01-2011 10:48 AM
It looks similar to a few things, but doesn't look *exactly* like anything I can think of off the top of my head. What it looks most like are a few of the ALS (advanced launch system) concepts from the late 80's, with a glideback booster and an expendable core. But this models proportions seem to be off for that.Compare with this ALS configuration. What is it made of? Lots of things seem to be peeling off, like they were paper or cardstock just glued on. |
CAIR67
Member Posts: 17
From: MD, United States
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 10-01-2011 06:41 PM
Thanks for the info so far. The rocket and booster are fiberglass construction. It was than detailed on top of the fiberglass using plasticard and brass. The plasticard is now peeling off.The space vehicle was found in a lot on the west coast that included many large fiberglass aviation models. This was the only space related model in the lot. The model maker made models for airlines, aerospace companies, and movies. Most of these models appeared to be from around the mid to late 80's. |
Jerry Brouillette
Member Posts: 147
From: Louviers, CO
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 10-01-2011 08:19 PM
Nice models and a great subject!Are there any holes or hints of thrusters on the tail end of the winged model? |
Glint
Member Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 10-04-2011 03:35 PM
Looks sort of like a concept model for the an X-34 but with a missing tail section. Here are examples of other X-34 designs: 1 | 2Do any parts appear to be missing? Can you post an aft view image? |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 12-17-2011 01:03 PM
Did you ever id this model? Do you have pics of the other models? I was thinking these might have been built by Gene Young. |
CAIR67
Member Posts: 17
From: MD, United States
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 01-17-2014 10:45 PM
Still trying to put a name to this Gene Young model. Is it an actual proposal, fantasy, or movie prop? I did find an interesting picture of a recent Lockheed RLV concept. It's eerily similar to this model made about 25 years ago.  |
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